Finger training device for stringed musical instruments

ABSTRACT

A finger training device for the proper manipulation of the fingers in the course of playing a stringed instrument, constituted by a restraining bar which is adjustably positioned above the fingers as they move along the finger board of the instrument. A flexible, but self-sustaining rod is connected between the restraining bar and a wrist-band adapted to be mounted on the wrist adjacent to the hand which supports the neck of the instrument, and along which the fingers glide for variably contacting the musical strings running therealong. Furthermore, universal joints at each end of the flexible rod facilitate the setting of the bar any desired distance above the fingers to restrain the undue lifting thereof from the strings.

United States Patent Columbo [54] FINGER TRAINING DEVICE FOR STRINGEDMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS [76] Inventor: Christopher Columbo, 1759 79thStreet, Brooklyn, NY. 1 1214 [22] Filed: May 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:254,754

[52] U.S. Cl. ..84/465, 84/281,84/328 [51] Int. Cl. 1.60911 15/06 [58]Field of Search ..84/281, 328, 465, 467, 468, 84/470,485

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 505,745 9/1893 Barclay..84/467 ux 2,240,696 5/1941 Gusman ..s4/2s1 2,918,836 12/1959 Worrel..84/465 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 588,731 2/1925 France ..s4/2s120,671 1/1883 Germany ..s4/467 [1 1] 3,724,314 1 51 Apr. 3, 1973 10/1912Germany ..84/468 1,030,152

5/1958 Germany ..84/470 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson AssistantExaminer.lohn F. Gonzales Attorney-Samuel Lebowitz 5 7] ABSTRACT Afinger training device for the proper manipulation of the fingers in thecourse of playing a stringed instru- 1 ment, constituted by arestraining bar which is adjustably positioned above the fingers as theymove along the finger board of the instrument. A' flexible, butself-sustaining rod is connected between the restraining bar and awrist-band adapted to be mounted on the wrist adjacent to the hand whichsupports the neck of the instrument, and along which the fingers glidefor variably contacting the musical strings running therealong.Furthermore, universal joints at each end of the flexible rod facilitatethe setting of the bar any desired distance above the fingers torestrain the undue lifting thereof from the strings.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 3 I975 FIG.6

FINGER TRAINING DEVICE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS guitars,violins, etc.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a rugged andreliable device which may be operated very simply to develop a walkingfinger technique and to restrain the undue lifting of the fingers as theplayer moves them along the finger board of the instrument to sound thevarious desired musical notes.

It is another object of the invention to provide a training device oflow cost which is universally adaptable to the needs and the physicalrequirements of a wide range of players and students.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description ofthe invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thedevice and its adaptability to the hand supporting a stringed musicalinstrument, the latter of which are shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the device with the adjustability thereofadjacent to the wrist-band indicated in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 2 with the adjustability capabilities ofthe device at both ends thereof indicated in dotted lines;

FIG. 4 is a right end view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device at the junction ofthe flexible rod and restraining bar unit; and

.FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the wristband.

In the drawings are shown a wrist-band 1 formed of resilient sheetmaterial of metal, plastic or the like, having an open gap 2 to enablethe device to be slipped onto the wrist of the operator and to beresiliently retained thereon.

A flexible rod 3, of tubing which may be fabricated from metal orplastic, has one end thereof connected to the exterior surface of thewrist-band l by means of a projection 8 onto which is mounted a sleeveof a universal joint 9 in which is seated a spherical elementconstituting the end of the flexible rod 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the rod3, which may resemble the support of goose-neck lamps, and the like, andwhich may be constituted by spirally banded tubing similar to thesheathing of BX cable or spiral plastic bands, extends from the sleeveof the universal joint 9 for a length of a foot or foot and a half, andterminates at the opposite end in another universal joint constituted bya sleeve 4 into which is seated a spherical bearing 5 and the tightnessof which is controlled by a spring 5. The spherical ball 5 isinterconnected with a shank 6, at the opposite end of which is mounted atransverse bar 7 of any suitable material, such as metal or plastic.Preferably, the shank 6 is connected to the mid-portion of the bar 7 toimpart a desirable degree of balance to the device.

The capability of adjustment of the flexible rod 3, which althoughflexible is mechanically self-sustaining once an adjustment is made, iscominative with combinative angular adjustments which may be made ateither or both ends thereof. The latter capability is indicated indotted lines in FIG. 3. The angular positioning of the flexible rod 3adjacent to the wrist-band l, as well as the capability of universalmovement of the restraining bar at the opposite end of the flexible rod,in conjunction with the flexing of the rod 3 anywhere along its length,permit the latter to be moved relative to the wristband, so that theterminal bar 7 may be brought into overlying relation to the neck orfinger board of the musical instrument into any desired spacing withrespect to the fingers F of the operators hand. This spacing ismaintained with uniformity as the hand and fingers are slid along thefinger board of the musical instrument and serve to restrain anyundesirable lifting movements of the fingers as they move along the neckof the instrument in the course of eliciting the proper musical notes asthe fingers move longitudinally along the strings and transversely inthe course of the selection of the proper strings. This restraint aidsin the development ol'thc walking finger" technique.

While the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a desirablewrist-band which may be applied rapidly and easily to the wrist of themusician, and detached therefrom, FIG. 6 illustrates a variant form ofwrist-band. In this case, the band 10 may be formed of sheet material ofmetal or plastic and an extension 11, affixed to one side of the band,bridges the opening 12 between the ends thereof. The free portion 13 ofthe extension overlaps the opposite side of the band. Any suitablefastening arrangement, such as a plurality of openings 14 on extension11 may cooperate with a pin 15 on the fixed side of the band toaccommodate comfortably the wrist of the player by selectively couplingthe pin 15 with one of the openings 14. The same result may be attainedby using cooperating snap fasteners, hooks and eyes, Velcro tape, andthe like.

I claim:

1. A finger training device for stringed musical instruments comprisinga. a band adapted to be mounted on the wrist of the musician adjacent tothe hand supporting the neck of the stringed instrument,

b. an adjustable self-sustaining flexible rod connected to said band atone end thereof,

c. a transverse bar adjustably connected to the opposite end of saidflexible rod, and

d. a universal joint at said last-mentioned end for permitting anydesired positioning of said transverse bar above the fingers of saidhand adapted to function as a restraint on the lifting movement of thefingers from the strings as the hand is moved along the neck of themusical instrument.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible rod is aspiral tubing of cylindrical cross-section.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, including a stem connected to anintermediate portion of said transverse bar, with the free end of saidstem connected to said universal joint.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said wristband is formed ofresilient sheet material provided with a gap between the free endsthereof which is adapted to be snapped onto the wrist of the musician,and a second generally cylindrical cross-section with a gap betweenuniversal joint connected to the outer face of said band the ends th fand an exension on one f said ends for mounting said first-mentioned endof said flexible rod for universal movement.

5. A finger training device as set forth in claim 3, 5 wherein saidwrist-band is formed of sheet material of adapted to overlap the otherwith adjustable fastening means therebetween.

1. A finger training device for stringed musical instruments comprisinga. a band adapted to be mounted on the wrist of the musician adjacent tothe hand supporting the neck of the stringed instrument, b. anadjustable self-sustaining flexible rod connected to said band at oneend thereof, c. a transverse bar adjustably connected to the oppositeend of said flexible rod, and d. a universal joint at saidlast-mentioned end for permitting any desired positioning of saidtransverse bar above the fingers of said hand adapted to function as arestraint on the lifting movement of the fingers from the strings as thehand is moved along the neck of the musical instrument.
 2. A device asset forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible rod is a spiral tubing ofcylindrical cross-section.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 1,including a stem connected to an intermediate portion of said transversebar, with the free end of said stem connected to said universal joint.4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said wrist-band is formedof resilient sheet material provided with a gap between the free endsthereof which is adapted to be snapped onto the wrist of the musician,and a second universal joint connected to the outer face of said bandfor mounting said first-mentioned end of said flexible rod for universalmovement.
 5. A finger training device as set forth in claim 3, whereinsaid wrist-band is formed of sheet mAterial of generally cylindricalcross-section with a gap between the ends thereof, and an extension onone of said ends adapted to overlap the other with adjustable fasteningmeans therebetween.